7 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Starting a Supplement
A five-minute conversation with your doctor or pharmacist can save a lot of guesswork. Here is a checklist to bring, plus the ingredients that most often need a quick check.
In short
Bring the bottles or photos of the labels, a list of your medications, and these seven questions. Your pharmacist is a great, free option too.
What to bring
- The bottles, or photos of each Supplement Facts panel.
- A list of your prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any recent blood test results, such as vitamin D.
The seven questions
- Is there a reason I should not take this?
- Could it interact with any of my medications?
- Is this amount right for me, or should I take less?
- Am I already getting this nutrient from food or another product?
- Is there a blood test that would help, before or after?
- When is the best time of day to take it, given my other medicines?
- What should make me stop taking it and call you?
Ingredients in our range that most often need a check
| If you… | Ask about |
|---|---|
| Take blood thinners | Vitamin K2 (Vitamin D3 + K2) and turmeric (Turmeric + BioPerine, Milk Thistle + Turmeric, Glucosamine + MSM) |
| Have gallbladder issues | Turmeric |
| Are sensitive to aspirin | White willow bark (Glucosamine + MSM) |
| Limit sodium | Creatine+ (1,000 mg sodium per scoop) |
| Are sensitive to caffeine | Mind + Energy |
| Have trouble sleeping or drive at night | Sleep+ (2 mg melatonin; do not drive after taking it) |
| Have digestive symptoms | Senna formulas (short-term use only) |
| Take other vitamin D or zinc | Your total intake (see our overlap guide) |
Everyone who is pregnant, nursing, under 18, managing a medical condition or taking medication should talk to a healthcare professional before starting any supplement. That warning is on every one of our labels.
Keep reading
- How to check your supplements for overlap: add up what you take
- FAQs: common questions about our formulas
This article is general information, not medical advice.
